Fake News

The date was Sunday, October 30, 1938.  The Mercury Air Theatre, a radio drama broadcast over CBS radio, decided to air a Halloween episode directed by Orson Welles called The War of the Worlds, adapted from the 1898 novel by H.G. Wells, called by the same name.  The main gist of the show was that through simulated news bulletins, it was suggested that our planet was under attack my alien Martians.  While the show began with a clear disclaimer that the show was entirely fiction, there were few commercial interruptions, so those who turned in late were sent into panic thinking it to be really happening.  People disagree as to how much panic actually ensued, but the public outrage that followed was definitely real.  Many felt that the show had been intentionally deceptive with its listeners.

Fake news has been around for decades as a novelty, but now, because of media bias, we must filter everything we hear through a “truth” filter, “Is what I’m hearing really true or is it false?”  Recently, a news story was published as being possibly true without any substantiation as to its authenticity.  Their reasoning was to let the reader decide.  It was soon shown to be false, yet many still believed it to be true because they had heard it on the news or read it on the internet?  If we can’t trust the messenger, how can we know if what they tell us is true? 

The ones most upset with The War of the Worlds’ broadcast were the other news outlets because this fake news broadcast created doubt in the minds of listeners that maybe all news providers might be offering up bogus reports.  How could any of them be trusted?

As Christians, we carry a very special message that we call “Good News,” yet many in the world today have determined it to be fake news.  The idea of Jesus coming to this Earth to die for the sins of mankind seems ludicrous, much like Martians invading Earth.  They have come to this conclusion because, generally speaking, Christians have failed to live out their faith in loving and caring ways.  Our culture has deemed the messenger unreliable, untrustworthy and at times, even a threat to society, because of how Christians have conducted themselves.  Churches across America declare this Good News but few listen or pay attention anymore .  Since they don’t trust the messenger, they ignore the message.

I’m reminded of the first couple verses of the old altar-call hymn, “Channels Only.”

How I praise Thee, precious Savior,

That Thy love laid hold of me;

Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me

That I might Thy channel be.

Just a channel full of blessing,

To the thirsty hearts around;

To tell out Thy full salvation,

All Thy loving message sound.

Refrain:

Channels only, blessed Master,

But with all Thy wondrous pow’r

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

This year, make it your priority to be the kind of messenger that people rely on to speak truth into their lives.  It is only by being honest, loving, and trustworthy that people will accept the Good News as the life-changing message that it is.

For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.   Hebrews 4:2 [NIV]

Taking Matters Into My Own Hands

December 29, 2016 at 12:01pm

Whenever we flipped the calendar into a new year, it serves as a good time to reflect on one’s life to see if any changes need to be made going forward.  Being a guy, this usually takes only a few moments: eat healthier, don’t do anything stupid, and live on a budget.

A new year also serves as a time to reflect on where I am spiritually and what changes God might want me to make in my life, such as being more intentional about my relationship with Him, building deeper friendships and being more missional with my friends and neighbors, and maybe sitting down as a family to read through the New Testament.  [There are 260 chapters in the New Testament and 263 days in a year if you don’t count Saturdays and Sundays.]

A new year is also a good time to reflect back on how God has blessed over the past months and then to grab hold of His promises going into 2017, whatever it might hold.

One of our family’s favorite verses in the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  These verses are meant to encourage us, knowing that God is always in control and has a grand purpose for our lives.  The various events that happen in my life, good or bad, are meant to give me hope and remind me of my preferred future with God in charge. 

Paul reiterates Jeremiah’s words in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  This doesn’t mean that it’s always smooth sailing but only that God’s purposes are being fulfilled as it pertains to each one of us and that our faith and perseverance should see us through.

Yet, here’s the problem.  Not many of us have the faith or the patience to see us through those difficult and challenging times.  We end up like the Israelites who… “did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” [Judges 17:6]  We follow in the footsteps of people like Adam & Eve, Cain, Jacob & Esau, Joseph’s brothers, Moses who disobeyed God by hitting the rock, Aaron and the golden calf, Achan stealing the gold in Jericho, most of the judges of Israel such as Gideon with the ephod, Jepthath with the foolish vow, Samson with his many shortcomings.  How about the kings of Israel and Judah beginning with King Saul, King David with his womanizing ways, King Solomon, King Rehoboam, and on down the line.  All through biblical history you see individuals taking matters into their own hands, refusing to rely on God.  There are some exceptions though like Noah, Daniel, Jeremiah, the Apostle John, and Paul, but for the most part, people, then and now, tend to do whatever seems right to them and then seek God’s wisdom or approval.

I must admit, when I get going in my day, I often simply react to my circumstances and never stop to consider what God might be up to in my life.  Most of the time, I operate under the rubric of doing what seems right to me. 

This year, my one resolution is to trust God regardless of how the circumstances may look to me, to trust Him with my future and then have the patience to wait on Him instead of rushing into a stupid decision.  God has great plans for my family and me and I can’t wait to discover what He has in store for the coming year, but I guess I’ll have to be patient and wait for Him to reveal them to me in His time.  It’s kind of like Christmas, one present at a time, which is about all I can handle anyway.